ALL OBSOLETE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 227, 24 September 1932, Page 7

ALL OBSOLETE.

NEW ZEALAND AIRCRAFT. REPLACEMENTS NEEDED. REPORT TO PARLIAMENT. (By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Only one aeroplane belonging to the New Zealand Air Force is of a service type as still in use in other parts of the British Empire. All the others are obsolete. These facts are contained in the annual report of the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces (Major "General W. L. 11. SinclairBurgess). The report was presented to Parliament yesterday. There are two Air Force stations in the Dominion, states the report, and t v ;e aircraft are distributed as follow: Hobsonville: One Fairey lIIF seaplane, one Cutty Sark flying boat, three Moths. Wigram: Five Bristol Fighters, three Grebe, fighters, four Hawker Tomtite, three training Moths, and one Puss Moth for photographic and communication purposes. The Fairey lIIF is the only service type oi machine still in use in other parts of the Empire. The utility of tbis machine is considerably reduced during the current year owing to the necessity for heavy overhauls. The Bristol fighters and Grebes are now six years old, and their maintenance is becoming increasingly difficult, both in respect to personnel and supply of spares. A proportion of this year's Air Force vote, assuming that it remains unaltered, will be expended in the supply of spares for the maintenance of these obsolete machines. Lack of technical accessories has militated both against the training of the Permanent and Territorial Air Force in essential military duties, and also against the utilisation of the Air Force in certain public services, such as surveys. It is hoped to make provision for such equipment in the near future Although the Hobsonville base wr.s completed two years ago, no machine equipment essential for the maintenance of aircraft and engines has yet been installed. It is hoped to make piovisiou for this urgent need in this yeai's estimates. The strength of the permanent air force remained unaltered during last year, but on account of the deterioration of equipment, an increase in the number of technical aircraftmen was a matter of urgency.